Grandma Adventure

To celebrate retirement, I rented a cabin in the NC mountains and invited the three younger grandkids to go on a grandma adventure.  (My DD felt "left out" so I invited her as well... and her DH was able to join us for part of the stay.)  

I've missed out on so much of their lives because I was still working and the eldest is going off to college in two weeks.  So, I was determined that at least some of the grandkids would remember a special time with their grandmother after she retired.   

The cabin was lovely and perfect for multi-generations (read:  bedrooms on different levels and plenty of bathrooms).  The deck was wonderful as was the 20 degree cooler temps.

Early mornings on the deck with a cuppa tea or coffee were a joy!  The rockers were so relaxing...

There are lots of things to do in the West Jefferson, NC area...  such as hiking to the top of Mt. Jefferson.

The gem mining was a much bigger success than I imagined... we had to pry the kids away at closing.  After we got back to the cabin, the kids spent time looking up the various gems they found online...  "Can we go again tomorrow?"

I don't have photos from tubing on the river but the grandgirl with the GoPro promised to send me some.   We had dinner out one night in West Jefferson...

...however, there was plenty of time to hang out at the cabin.

And then there were the views...

The grandkids are already talking about another grandma adventure to the mountains next summer...  to include more gem mining and white-water rafting.

...guess I need to start planning?  

PS - When I got up on the last morning, the temp outside was 57 degrees.  At noon, it was 67... but when I got home, it was 91 + very humid.

I sewed something!

Despite the sewing room pitch-and-toss/reorganization being done (...because the guy who was going to refinish my tub suddenly had a couple of days free and could do it "right now"!!! )  ...I did a little sewing today.

My DIL found an over-sized pillow and asked me to make a pillow cover for it so that grandson George can prop up and read with it behind his back.  BTW -  George is oldest grandchild who is going off to college in a couple of weeks.

With the closure of my LQS, the only options I have for fabric are Hobby Lobby and Walmart and I was fortunate to find some cotton duck/canvas that wouldn't be embarrassing for a college freshman (i.e., no flowers, kitties, or puppies)

I kept it simple (no zipper or buttons), just an envelope back...   but while I was sewing, I was reminded that my next sewing project needs to be a non-slip mat for the sewing machine pedal that likes to slide further and further out of reach.

I had pinned instructions for a non-slip sewing machine foot pedal mat (link) on Pinterest for this day...   and it will be my next project.  

After I finish up the sewing room redo, I am promising myself to clean up after every single project.  Anyone want to bet how long that resolution lasts???

Retirement: A Month In

I have to say that adjusting to retirement has been interesting and this past month has definitely had a different feel than "summer vacation" in the past...  for example, I don't feel as if I need to rush on projects.  Don't get it finished today?  That's okay... plenty more time to get it done.

I've been doing a number of little chores around the place such as taking apart and cleaning my vacuum cleaner and mopping the front porch... fun stuff that no one notices but you.  However, I have started hoeing out the sewing room, which consists of many steps.  I've been offered help but honestly, the hauling stuff out and cleaning is the easiest part.  The organizing/putting away will take some time but the hardest part:  rearranging sewing furniture in a 10'x10' room with wall-to-wall closet doors.  Not many places to put stuff.

It would help if I moved the desk and file cabinet out of the room but I don't know where I'd put it.  I like having all my "office stuff" together, and when following an online tutorial, it does help to have my laptop in the same room as my sewing machine.

(Yes, there are holes in the radiator cover... yet another project ahead of me.)

Previously, I had my ironing board set up in an L-position with my sewing tables but I swapped that out for a shelf with a portable cutting board-that-reverses-to-a-ironing surface.  I'll be able to store the iron on the shelf as well as the serger, which can be moved to the top shelf when needed.

I've also moved lights around and tried to brighten the dark corners of the room.   The moving/cleaning part is the easiest... it's the figuring out where to put stuff that is hard.  Several cups of tea were required....

No estimate on when I get this done but it's not a problem...  after all, I'm retired and have all the time I want!